Albion land Gamboa

ALBION have completed the signing of Cristian Gamboa after the Costa Rica international had his work permit application approved by an FA appeal panel this afternoon.

The Baggies have beaten off strong competition to sign the World Cup star, who has joined for an undisclosed fee from Norwegian side Rosenborg.

The pacy and versatile right-sided defender, who can also play wide midfield, has penned a three-year deal at The Hawthorns after passing a medical. He will wear the No.16 shirt.

The 24-year-old will fly into the West Midlands to join up with his new team-mates for the first time once he has received his visa and passport.

Gamboa started all five of Costa Rica’s World Cup matches earlier this summer as the Central American side topped Group D and progressed to the quarter-finals, eventually losing out to the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out.

Head coach Alan Irvine said: “As I commented the other day, it would have been amazing if Cristian had not been granted a work permit and we’re obviously satisfied with today’s outcome.

“Cristian is a player I was extremely impressed by during the World Cup.

"We faced stiff competition from other Premier League clubs for his services but we've managed to convince Cristian that West Bromwich Albion is the best club for him to join.

"Cristian is a quick, aggressive defender with good energy levels. He gets up and down the pitch really well and we believe he will continue to improve."

Technical director Terry Burton added: “Cristian had been mentioned to us before the World Cup. We’d had some reports from his time in Norway and obviously his performances in BrazIl then confirmed our views.”

Gamboa started his career in his homeland with Municipal Liberia, winning his native league title in 2009, before moving to Norway in 2010 to sign for Fredrikstad.

After just one season he was snapped up by FC Copenhagen, for whom he tasted Europa League football in 2011/12 and helped lift the Danish Cup.

In the summer of 2012, Gamboa returned to Norway to link up with Rosenborg on loan.

He impressed suitably enough to be handed a permanent contract in November 2012, helping the Norwegian outfit to third and second-placed league finishes as well as again tasting Europa League action.

Gamboa was part of the Costa Rica team who finished in fourth place at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup, before making his senior international debut against Argentina in 2010.

He has since gone on to earn 30 caps for his nation, scoring once in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Guyana.

Gamboa is Albion’s eighth signing of the summer, following the additions of Brown Ideye, for a club-record transfer fee, and Andre Wisdom, on loan from Liverpool, as well as Craig Gardner, Joleon Lescott, Chris Baird, Sebastien Pocognoli and Jason Davidson.